Soga felt frustrated.
He thought it shouldn't be like this.
Initially, he was full of ambition when he joined his master's ranks, determined to accomplish great things. Especially during his time with this master, repeatedly witnessing his extraordinary power and incredible feats beyond common logic, Soga grew more and more respectful, believing he was destined to ascend to the pinnacle alongside this master, becoming as renowned in history as the Black Mage or Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
However, up until now, although he was reluctant to admit it, it seemed that whenever he appeared, he was mostly cannon fodder.
That shouldn't be...
Something must have gone wrong somewhere.
"The legendary Pharaoh is truly formidable. Even when his strategy was blocked, he still found a way to navigate through the situation."
Yugen expressed his admiration.
The Pharaoh frowned.
Although he didn't quite understand his opponent yet, for some reason, hearing this person's approval felt strange and not at all pleasing.
But it was a fact that he managed to break through a dire situation.
"With this, the lock is lifted," the Pharaoh said. "First, I'll activate the Cover Card, the Continuous Trap 'Dark Production Factory'.
This card allows me once per turn to send a card from my hand, and a monster on my field to the Graveyard, then draw a card from my deck..."
"A draw card effect, that's not good."
Yugen snapped his fingers.
"Then I'll activate the Continuous Trap 'Royal Palace Notice'.
As long as this card remains on the field, all trap effects... are nullified!"
Pharaoh: "......"
The genius duelist of Ancient Egypt, the Duel God, the undefeated Pharaoh, found himself in deep silence, faced with the trap his opponent had just revealed.
Today's duel was truly a novel experience for him, filled with numerous firsts.
For the first time, he felt that his usually unstoppable three-pronged strategy now required every ounce of effort just to initiate the First Coffin.
For the first time, he sensed that dueling was not a battle of passion and strategic wit, but a mere routine of serving time in confinement.
For the first time...
...he felt that rather than manipulating monsters to fight, he preferred to roll up his sleeves and confront his opponent directly.
The Pharaoh let out a long, weary breath.
Have duelists from three thousand years later really become this twisted in their psyche, so desperately fixated on winning?
No, all I want is to open a coffin, is it really that serious...
The Pharaoh said in a dull tone, "Then I'll activate a Magic Card...
...Great Storm!"
"Oh?" Yugen raised an eyebrow, "You have that too."
"Great Storm, destroys all Magic and Trap cards on both sides of the field."
The backfield was completely flipped by the magic, as the typhoon-like whirlwind became a towering tornado. It shattered the Heart Calming Pot that had been suppressing his cover cards, blowing away the Holy Defense and coffin plank that had been under pressure from the pot from start to finish.
"Impressive." Yugen paused, smiling, "But, is this really okay?"
"With this, Your Majesty has personally destroyed both 'First Coffins'. Aren't those the most important coffins for you?"
"No need for your concern."
The Pharaoh replied icily.
This was indeed very unprofitable, but he had no other choice.
In fact, Wise Official Kadan possessed the ability to "protect Continuous Traps on one's field from being destroyed by opponent effects" upon leaving the field, but only protected against destruction from "opponent effects". It couldn't withstand one's own Great Storm.
Thinking about it just made him feel worse.
So frustrating...
"However, compared to just now, on both sides of the field and in the graveyard, there's now a 'Royal Palace Notice', a new 'First Coffin', and a 'Dark Production Factory', adding three more Trap cards, raising the Pharaoh Descent's Attack Power by 900."
[Pharaoh's Descent, Attack Power 2600 → Attack Power 3500]
"But the Pharaoh Descent's other effect activates.
Sacrificing an Angel Race monster on my field, I can add a Continuous Trap card from my deck to my hand."
He pointed at the Radiant Angel that was face-down on his field.
"This effect can also be applied to face-down Angels. I sacrifice the 'Radiant Angel', and retrieve a Continuous Trap card from my deck to my hand."
"You can retrieve a Continuous Trap, huh?"
An idea lit up Yugen's eyes.
This effect is rather impressive.
Throughout Yu-Gi-Oh! history, locks have always been a core component of any defensive strategy. Among the numerous lockdown effects, Continuous Traps account for a significant portion and are affectionately referred to as "sticker traps" by players.
Even now, many potent lockdown stick traps are not outdated, exerting devastating suppression against modern meta. The biggest weakness of sticker traps is their difficulty in being fetched and not being guaranteed to be readily available in hand.
The ability to search any Continuous Trap makes the effect incredibly robust.
Yugen squinted.
Your Majesty, I feel this card has a connection with me...
"Through this effect, I add the third Continuous Trap 'First Coffin' from my deck to my hand!" the Pharaoh declared.
Yugen: "..."
To use such an immensely powerful effect that can search any despair-inducing sticker trap, only to pick up a new coffin... Your Majesty's dedication to his coffin is certainly felt by Yugen.
"Set two cards, end turn!"
Without a doubt, one of them is the First Coffin.
The Pharaoh squinted.
The other set card is the Trap Card "Trap in the Darkness". When Life Points are below 3000, you can pay 1000 Life Points to copy the effect of a Trap in the Graveyard.
Using this card to gain the effect of "Divine Protective Shield - Reflective Mirror Force" in the Graveyard, it's the strongest shield capable of counterattacking against all opponent's Monsters in one go.
Additionally, the "Wise Official Kadan" that was sacrificed last turn gives a temporary immunity to destruction effects for face-up Traps on his field until the end of the next turn after being sent to the Graveyard.
This means his First Coffin even gained protection against destruction this time.
With this, the situation is completely reversed. There's the powerful Pharaoh Descent in the front, and the strongest shield in the back. His long-awaited coffin seems to finally start interacting smoothly without obstacles, everything is just about to get better...
"My turn, draw." Yugen revealed another card in his hand leisurely, "Activate Magic Card 'Hurricane'. All Magic and Trap cards on both sides return to their owner's hand."
Pharaoh: "........."
Even though he couldn't see it, Yugen inexplicably felt that the face beneath the golden mask seemed contorted.
Na...Nani!???
Not destruction, but directly bounced back to the hand?
In this way, the destruction resistance of the Wise Official is rendered useless, and even if he quickly activates the effect of Hurricane in a chain to the First Coffin, he can't escape being blown back...
The Hurricane swept up, and with one breath, it swept both Trap Cards in his backfield back into his hand.
Seeing the sudden addition of two cards in his hand, the face under the Pharaoh's mask twitched again.
Obviously, the coffin that was supposed to activate at the end of this turn couldn't be played again...
No, my coffin... is it really so difficult to open?
The Pharaoh took a deep breath.
No rush.
Although the backfield was breached, his front field still had the powerful Descent of the Pharaoh.
At least his coffin is still in his hand, and he can activate it again next turn.
"Effect of 'Threatening Android - Telekinesis Stunner' in the hand, when there is a Trap Card on the field or in the graveyard of oneself or the opponent, special summon from the hand."
[Threatening Android - Telekinesis Stunner, Attack Power 2400]
A new guise for Artificial Human Soga. Naturally, a new product from Yugen's laboratory.
However, despite wearing Soga's disguise, this card does not possess the ability to seal Traps.
"Subsequent effect of the Threatening Android, during the main phase, by sacrificing this card, you can special summon 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator' from the hand or graveyard."
Yugen took back the card that was withdrawn from the graveyard.
"Use the Threatening Android as a sacrifice, resurrect from the graveyard—
—Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, summon!"
Soga, summoned once again by the master, stood tall and proud, patting his chest toward his good brother Gaius, then returned to the field with renewed confidence.
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, Attack Power 2400]
The Pharaoh's expression stiffened.
It's him again.
This thing again...
No.
Can't you just stay quietly in your coffin without constantly rising from the dead!?
In this way, the activation of traps is blocked again...
But it's okay.
"Even if you summon this Android again, its current attack power is no match for the Descent of the Pharaoh," he said in a deep voice. "Next turn, as long as this thing is defeated, my First Coffin..."
"Of course, if there's a next turn," Yugen smiled.
Pharaoh: "!"
"Use the 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator' on the field as a sacrifice, evolution upgrade!"
Yugen raised his right arm high.
"After years of evolution, the technological essence of the artificial king—
—Artificial Human - Telekinesis King, summon!"
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis King, Attack Power 2600]
"It actually evolved!?" The Pharaoh increasingly felt unease.
"The evolved Telekinesis King inherits Soga's effect, all traps can't be activated, and the effects of traps on the field are nullified.
Then battle."
Yugen directly entered the battle phase.
"Artificial Human - Telekinesis King, attack 'Descent of the Pharaoh'."
"Using a monster with lower attack power? Are you seeking destruction!?"
"At the moment of battle, activate the Speed Attack Magic 'Restriction Removal' from the hand," Yugen said. "The Attack Power of the Mechanical Race monsters on your field is doubled!"
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis King, Attack Power 2600→Attack Power 5200]
"Attack Power of 5200!?"
The Pharaoh was shocked.
[Descent of the Pharaoh, Attack Power 3500]
Telekinesis King instantly gained amplification, letting out a great roar, the energy briefly elevated to surpassing godly levels. Finally, the Pharaoh found it hard to resist, pierced by the tyrannical telekinesis beam!
"Ugh!"
[Pharaoh, LP 1800→LP 100]
The Pharaoh staggered back, half-kneeling on the ground.
Waving his hand again to signal the servants trying to step forward to retreat, the Pharaoh persistently held a tough expression: "Hah, but this effect only lasts until the end of the turn. Next turn, the attack power will return to normal..."
"Yes. But like I said,"
Yugen smiled gently.
"If there's a next turn."
The Pharaoh's pupils contracted.
"Further effect of the Artificial Human - Telekinesis King.
Once per turn, confirm all cards in the opponent's hand and backfield, destroy all Trap Cards among them. For each card destroyed, deal 300 damage to the opponent." (Original effect)
"What did you say!?"
The Pharaoh completely lost his composure.
Trap lock persisted, not even sparing the traps in hand?
This guy...
"Effect of the Telekinesis King, Trap Scan!" Yugen beckoned with his finger, "Come, Your Majesty, show your hand."
Pharaoh: "..."
"Wow, it turns out there are exactly two traps, what luck," Yugen said, "Therefore, all two cards in the hand are destroyed, and for each one, dealing 300... that's 600 points of damage!"
The Telekinesis King extended both palms, telekinesis transformed into a current to blast out. The two trap cards were projected into the air, exploding under the entangled electric light!
[Pharaoh, LP 100→LP 0]